Australian cricketer Elysse Perry celebrates after taking the wicket of unseen West Indies cricketer Kycia Knight during the final match of the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 between Australia and West Indies at the Cricket Club of India's Brabourne stadium in Mumbai on February 17, 2013. AFP PHOTO/Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Images)
Australia's leading female cricketers will be the best paid of any women's team sport in the country after Cricket Australia announced significant pay rises.
Many Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars players, who were runners-up in the recently-concluded ICC World T20 in India, will now be able to earn in excess of $100,000 a year. CA will increase its female player payment pool from $2.36 million to $4.23 million, with maximum retainers for the Southern Stars rising from $49,000 to $65,000.
When combined with increased maximum retainers for the Women's Big Bash League of $15,000 the base rate for Australia's best female players rises to $80,000, while Southern Stars match payments and tour fees will ensure earnings exceed six figures.
Minimum retainers have more than doubled, rising from $19,000 to $40,000 for the Southern Stars and $3,000 to $7,000 for the WBBL.
With Women's National Cricket League payments up from $7000 to $11,000, Australia's best domestic female cricketers will earn $26,000 a season.